Apia International Sydney Rd 1

Australian Sam Stosur will be looking to bounce back from her second round exit at the Brisbane International last week when she faces a tough match against Francesca Schiavone in the opening round in Sydney. The pair has formed a formidable rivalry over the past couple of years with Schiavone upsetting Stosur in the French Open final in straight sets two years ago. Despite that defeat, the world number six holds a 6-3 career advantage over the Italian, who is ranked just five places below her.

Other Aussies in action today include Matthew Ebden , who faces seventh seed Marcel Granollers , and wildcard James Duckworth , who has a tough task against Jarkko Nieminen from Finland.